'Life Threatening' Hazards For MA As Ernesto Moves Up Coast: Forecast

MASSACHUSETTS — Hurricane Ernesto will move northeast through the Atlantic Ocean this weekend, passing well east of New England, but still posing hazards in coastal areas.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Ernesto will be due east of Massachusetts by early Monday morning, but strong winds will precede its arrival, creating rip tides and high surf hazards.

“Even though Ernesto is forecast to remain well offshore of the U.S. East Coast, swells generated by the storm are expected to reach the area late this week and into the weekend. Beach goers should be aware of a significant risk of life-threatening surf and rip currents,” the National Hurricane Center warned.

Even with Ernesto far off the coast, Friday and Saturday will likely be good beach days, with warm temperatures and little chance of rain. Anyone planning to visit the beach in time with Ernesto should heed any warnings posted at beaches, forecasters warned.

As of Thursday morning, Ernesto was headed toward Bermuda. Once it passes the island, the storm won't directly threaten land until an expected arrival early Tuesday morning in Atlantic Canada as a weaker storm.

Ernesto has already left a trail of damage across the Caribbean. Winds from the storm knocked out power to 1.4 million people in Puerto Rico, and thousands more without water.

Officials said they don’t know when power would be fully restored as concerns grow about the health of many in Puerto Rico who cannot afford generators or solar panels on the island of 3.2 million people with a more than 40% poverty rate.

The Associated Press contributed material to this story